Wednesday, July 18, 2018

It's Everywhere! It's EVERYWHERE!


Well, the deed is done.

The new edition of The Night Chicago Died – A Justice Security Novel is now available for pre-order most places that sell eBooks.

The hardcover edition is also available for pre-order from your favorite bookseller, like Barnes And Noble, Amazon, or even local independent bookstores like Parnassus Books in Nashville:  https://www.parnassusbooks.net/book/9780692142585

I want to urge you to support your independent bookstore, or even Barnes And Noble.  Amazon shouldn’t have the whole bookselling pie.

In my author’s note inside The Night Chicago Died, I mention that if you purchased the original version of the book, you already have the story.  The story is the same, but the Chicago characters are new.  I think you’ll like them, and I have stories in the works featuring Lieutenant Michelle “Mickey” Rooney, Sam Tanner, and Manny Salazar.  And, if you like my Justice Security folks, these three characters from Chi-Town are just as quirky and smart-assed!

The most exciting part to me about being able to release this story everywhere is that Justice Security readers across the globe will be able to enjoy the complete series!  While the story was originally exclusive to Amazon’s Kindle Worlds, many folks didn’t have access to it.  But, now, everyone can have the eighth story, and can read about Justice Security’s most violent meeting with Esteban Fernandez yet!

A word about Fernandez:  I enjoy writing the stories in which he faces off with Joey Justice and the crew.  I do.  But he is the hardest, scariest character I’ve ever written.  In order to give a character full credence, and to make the character believable, an author must be able to access that character in his or her mind…the author must become that character for a brief period.  It frightens me that I can do that with Fernandez.  He’s insane, he’s highly intelligent, he’s an extreme serial killer, and he’s ruthless.

I have to go dark when I write about him.  And the darkness inside frightens me to no end.

I do it, however.  I have to.  He’s a worthy opponent to Justice Security, to the point that Justice Security is building a second, hidden headquarters in the middle of Sardis County, so that they have a rabbit hole to disappear into if they have to.  Of course, with that second headquarters being in Sardis County, there’s a whole new set of things to worry about…and you’ll have to pick up that series to find out about it.

So, if you haven’t already, I hope that you pick up your copy of The Night Chicago Died- A Justice Security Novel.  Buy it in print, or buy an eBook…but buy it!  You will thoroughly enjoy the story!

Also, coming in a couple of months:  I’m Your Boogie Man – A Tale Of Sardis County.  Keep your eyes peeled, and…

Keep reading!

T. M. Bilderback (But you can call me Michael)


Follow me on Twitter:  @mrtmbilderback

Check me out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TMBilderback

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Thursday, June 21, 2018

I'm Kinda Excited


I’m kinda excited.

I’ve finished I’m Your Boogie Man – A Tale Of Sardis County.  I got a bad case of writer’s block there for a while, but I’m over it now…and the story is done!

This story is all about the Sardis Slasher, and how Sheriff Napier and Deputy Blake deal with it.  It also expands the story behind the Sardis witches, and just how deep their power goes.  The backstory on the father of Phoebe’s kids is also explored, and a certain security company from the city sets up shop in Sardis County…making Sardis County their rabbit hole.  But, they might have bitten off more than they can chew!

So, I’m kinda excited about that.

I’ve started work on Black Dog – A Justice Security Novel.  In the story, several members of Justice Security are dealing with nightmares from the aftermath of events in Hell’s Bells.  And that’s all I got to say ‘bout that.

I’m kinda excited about that, too.

But, this is what I’m most excited about:  in mid-July, the rights to The Night Chicago Died revert back to me.

What does that mean?

Well, in 2015, I wrote The Night Chicago Died as a team-up between my Justice Security and J. A. Konrath’s Jack Daniels.  Mr. Konrath didn’t have time to add anything to all of the stories that he had received, so, rather than co-write the stories, he partnered with Amazon and created a Kindle World.  Many of us authors were invited to be the initial suppliers of Jack Daniels stories teaming his popular character with our characters.

Fast forward to this year:  Amazon pulled the plug on Kindle Worlds, taking both authors and licensers by surprise.  Kindle Worlds will be shut down completely by mid-July, and rights to all of the stories therein will revert to the authors that wrote them.  However, the stories themselves were written using characters belonging to whoever licensed the Kindle World.

I emailed Mr. Konrath.  His solution was simple:  rewrite the story using your own characters.

I did.  On August 1st, the new edition of The Night Chicago Died – A Justice Security Novel will hit store shelves everywhere!  There will be a hardcover print edition, and the ebook will be available everywhere…not Amazon-exclusive.  Now, the basic story is the same – and if you purchased the Kindle Worlds edition, you already have the basic story.  The story still remains the eighth story in the Justice Security canon.  It just has new characters replacing J. A. Konrath’s characters, with a couple of editorial changes.

I like these new characters in this reworked story.  I’ll have to write more stories with them!

So, yeah, I’m excited about that!  I’m glad to have the story “back in the fold”, so to speak, and away from Amazon exclusivity!

So, those of you that buy your books through Kobo or Google Play or Barnes and Noble, get ready…because on August 1st, you’ll be able to add the eighth Justice Security story to your collections!

And, all of you, please…

Keep reading!

T. M. Bilderback (But you can call me Michael)

Follow me on Twitter:  @mrtmbilderback
Check me out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TMBilderback
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And sign up for my newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/tmbilderback

Friday, June 8, 2018

To Amazon Or Not To Amazon - That Is The Question


Readers, I’m taking a good, hard look at Amazon right now.

Amazon has begun policing its book section for scammers, pirates, and general ne’er-do-wells.  That’s all well and good, but, like a tuna net that captures dolphins along with the fish, they’re capturing and punishing honest authors, too.

Kindle Unlimited is one of the biggest problems.  Scammers target unsuspecting honest authors to hide what they’re doing to scam the system.  When they target honest authors, Amazon threatens the honest author with cancellation of their accounts because of something over which the honest author has no control. Now, I don’t have any titles in Kindle Unlimited, and haven’t for some time. It doesn’t affect me.

Something that does affect me is their CreateSpace arm.  I use CreateSpace for my paperback books.  I intend to switch them to another distributor soon, but, until them, I’m using CreateSpace.  Since I began republishing paperbacks through them, they’ve been suppressing them until I can prove that I own them.  I’ve done so with each title, but they’re dragging their feet on clearing some of the titles…and I’m not the only author that’s experiencing this.  Soon, I’ll begin moving the paperbacks to another distributor, and I won’t use Amazon’s publishing services for print again.

Add to this the fact that their ACX division, including Audible, is trying hard to pay pennies for each audiobook purchased.  Many authors, including myself, won’t work through ACX/Audible to provide audiobooks because of this.  I have several titles under contract with them, and I have no option with those titles…but, the audiobooks will begin coming out of contract beginning in 2020, and I’ll be pulling them and distributing them myself, through other distribution networks. I won’t use ACX/Audible again under their current terms.

Now, I’m giving serious thought to pulling my ebooks from Amazon, and only using them for a distributor of print books.  My ebooks would be available at all of the other retailers, like Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple – and with the Walmart/Kobo deal coming very soon, I highly recommend obtaining a Kobo ereader.

I’m thinking about it.  I haven’t done it yet, and I may not do it.  But, you know it’s bad when I’m at the point of thinking about pulling my ebooks from Amazon.

What are your thoughts?

Please let me know in the comments. But, mostly, thanks for your continued support!

Keep reading!

T. M. Bilderback (But you can call me Michael)

Follow me on Twitter:  @mrtmbilderback

Check me out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TMBilderback

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Friday, January 26, 2018

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!



These are exciting times for independent authors, like me! Especially those that offer books through many different retailers…again, like me!

Let me explain…

Google Play has announced that it has expanded into offering audiobooks. That is great news! It’s only a matter of time before independent authors are selling audiobooks through them. I have audiobooks, but they were produced under a contract that forces them to be available only at Amazon, Audible, and Apple. I own the rights to those audiobooks, and the contracts will begin expiring in 2020. After that, they’re mine to distribute anywhere and everywhere…and Google Play will be one of those locations!

I also have three stories that have not been produced as audiobooks…along with any new stories that I create. I’m working right now on having one of those three produced (it’s Eli’s Coming, and Patrick Peterson will be returning to narrate it), and the other two I hope to have later this year.

Those three will be available all over the place, not just at three retailers.

The next bit of news is from Barnes And Noble. They’ve announced a recommitment to eBook sales, and have opened up print-on-demand, or POD, for books. Now, I have paperback books available already, and they are for sale or can be ordered by almost any bookstore or book retailer.

But, Barnes And Noble offers hardback options.

I’ve taken informal polls from friends and acquaintances, and many would like to have a hardcover copy of some of my books…even if it’s through Barnes And Noble.

I’m working on one right now. Hold tight, and save your pennies! It’s coming!

The third bit of news for independent authors like me is huge. Kobo is teaming with Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart will be offering eBook titles through this team-up, along with Kobo eReaders and tablets. And, yes, my eBooks are available through Kobo…and will be available at Wal-Mart!

My goodness, great news all around for independent authors!

Now, here’s another piece of good news…for YOU.

If you haven’t picked up your eBook copy of Hell’s Bells – A Justice Security Novel, January 26th – January 29th is the time to grab it! The price will be 99 cents at all eBook retailers. And, because of the time involved at some retailers for resetting a price, it may be available at that price now! Check it out, and grab your copy now!

So much news! I hope that some of my excitement rubs off on you as you…

Keep reading!

T. M. Bilderback (But you can call me Michael)

Follow me on Twitter:  @mrtmbilderback

Check me out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TMBilderback

Sign up for my newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/tmbilderback

Finally, visit my website: https://www.tmbilderback.com

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?



I usually keep these blog posts limited to writing suggestions and book promotions, but, because of curious folks, I’ll clue you in to some of the things about my life that aren’t generally known.

Today, I’ll talk about my coin collection.

I collect coins. I’ve had a fascination with them since I was a child, but I didn’t really get into full-blown collecting until around 2010 or 2011…I don’t remember which year.

I don’t know what fascinates me about coins. They’re only small pieces of metal stamped with different denominations and depictions of funny-looking men.

When I was a kid, I used to love looking at pocket change, finding the dates and being fascinated with coins that were minted in years before I was born. It was amazing to me! I would find one that was, say, ten years older than me, and I’d think about the fact that it existed long before I did.

As I got older, I was fascinated by the potential piece of history that I held in my hand. Who held this coin before I did? Where has this coin traveled in its existence?

I also was fascinated by coins from other countries. When I was young, it was mostly Canadian coins mixed in sporadically with pocket change. When I received a Canadian penny or a Canadian nickel in pocket change from spending my allowance, I would examine them with a robust curiousity. Who was this lady with the crown? Why did this penny have a maple leaf? Why did this nickel have a beaver? And why didn’t our coins have neat stuff like that?

Now, as an adult, I still find myself fascinated by the history of coins. I hold a quarter from the 1940s, and I wonder if, perhaps, it had been touched by some of my film favorites, like Lou Costello, John Wayne, or James Stewart…or, maybe, by a figure from history, like Franklin D. Roosevelt or Albert Einstein. I hold coins from the thirties, and I wonder the same things. Anyone could have touched them! The Marx Brothers, Al Capone, one of the Three Stooges, John Dillinger, maybe Bonnie, or Clyde, or both! Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Marilyn Monroe...maybe one of the construction workers that built the Empire State Building used a quarter from the thirties to buy lunch for a day. The list is endless!

And, I am still fascinated by coins from around the world. I have coins from all sorts of different countries. The same sense of wonder and possibility accompanies them…at least in my mind. I have a couple of early English pennies dated in the late 1700s, and I wonder who could have touched them. Did British royalty handle them? Or did one of our founding fathers touch them? British coinage was still used in the United States even after the Revolutionary War, so it’s possible.

History fascinates me…and coins bring that history directly to my hand.

Coins also bring the world to me, too. I have coins from Japan, Korea, China, Italy, Greece, the Isle Of Man, Samoa, Ireland, Mexico…far more countries than I care to list. With each coin, the history comes with it…overwhelming in its potential. It could be the big names from history, or just an average person living day-to-day. Who held it? Did it bring riches to them, or that day’s bread? Where has this coin traveled, and how did it wind up within my area of collection?

I also have a fascination with the metal that makes up coins. I have silver coins, copper coins, aluminum coins, zinc coins, steel coins...the list is endless.

That’s one of my collections…and a lot of the reason that I collect them.

Nothing book related in this particular blog…but, I hope I’ve given you a small insight into me. If you’re interested, of course.

Remember, though, that I AM an author…and YOU need to…

Keep reading!

T. M. Bilderback (But you can call me Michael)

Follow me on Twitter:  @mrtmbilderback

Check me out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TMBilderback

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